Southern Upland Way

A journey of 212 miles (in 11 days) across the southern uplands of Scotland, from Portpatrick in the west to Cockburnspath in the east. The weather was a bit variable but probably to be expected for early July, thankfully the midge count was low.

Portpatrick harbour

Portpatrick harbour

Portpatrick harbour

The start of the Southern Upland Way in Portpatrick

Ruins on the edge of the cliffs at Portpatrick

Looking back towards Portpatrick

Port Mora and Port Kate from the clifftop path above Portpatrick

The beach at Port Mora

Looking back into the bay at Port Kate

Lighthouse (and foghorn) at Black Head, before the path heads East

Knock Bay, and the House of Knock

Looking back to the Lighthouse at Black Head, and the last view of the Irish Sea on the walk

The view from the top of Broad Moor, looking East

The long straight road near Ochtrelure

The long drive of Castle Kennedy

An avenue of Cordylines at Castle Kennedy

Looking back towards Black Loch

One of the many windfarms

Heading down through woodland to New Luce

Crossing the Water of Luce

Looking back towards New Luce on the start of day 2

The view ahead at the top of the moorland after leaving New Luce

The same wind farm as day 1, just getting closer

A small pool with yellow waterlillies in a plantation forest glade

A young Goshwak (I think)

The Beehive Bothy

Standing Stones at Laggangarn

Wells of the Rees, hidden by braken

The hills to come on the Southern Upland Way

The River Bladnoch

A break in the (almost) endless stretches of forest plantations

The trig point on top of Glenvernoch fell

The Water of Trool, near the beginning of day 3

$The Martyr\'s Tomb near Loch Trool$

Walking in the woodland along the southern side of Loch Trool

Half a view down Loch Trool

The view East towards Loch Dee

Sculpture along the Southern Upland Way near Loch Dee

Sculpture along the Southern Upland Way near Loch Dee

The view of Loch Dee from the front of the White Laggan Bothy

2 people fishing in the pouring rain at Loch Dee

Clatteringshaws Loch, looks half full (or half empty)

Some forestry workings near Benbrack

$The view down to St John\'s Town of Dalry$

Looking across the fields near Dalry

Heading out of Dalry at the start of day 4

Moorland to the North of Dalry

Moorland to the North of Dalry

The view ahead, with the peak of Benbrack to be climbed ahead

Getting closer to Benbrack

A windfarm on the horizon, taking a break walking up Benbrack

The view back from halfway up Benbrack

Arch on the top of Benbrack

$Allan\'s Cairn$

Sanquhar in the distance, the end of day 4

Sanquhar Castle

The oldest Post Office in Britain

Forestry Operations

The view towards Conrig

The old lead mine workings at Wanlockhead

The old beam engine at Wanlockhead

$The \'Golf Ball\' radar station on top of Lowther Hill (the highest point on the Southern Upland Way) in the mist at the start of day 6$

$The view East from the mist on top of Lowther Hill (the Southern Upland Way\'s highest point)$

Looking East from near the halfway point of the Southern Upland Way

$Looking back towards the \'Golf Ball\' radar dome on the top of Lowther Hill (the highest point on the Southern Upland Way) from Beld Knowe$

Heading down from Beld Knowe towards Brattleburn Bothy

...and then another mile or more to Moffat and the end of day 6

A rainbow over Beattock and Moffat

Heading out of Moffat Dale on the start of day 7

Cleared forest in the valley below Gateshaw Rig

Looking back towards Croft Head, and the path descending from the high level route

Looking back towards Croft Head

Goodbye Dumfries & Galloway, hello the Borders

An old sheep pen in the valley below Lochy Law

$A gathering storm blowing in towards St Mary\'s Loch at the end of day 7$

Looking back to the Loch of the Lowes on the start of day 8

$Shinglehook by Matt Baker on the shore of St Mary\'s Loch$

$Shinglehook by Matt Baker on the shore of St Mary\'s Loch$

Ruined tower near Dryhope

Sheep pen near South Hawkshaw Rig

Looking through the mist towards Traquair

Resolution Point on Minch Moor by Charles Poulsen

Resolution Point on Minch Moor by Charles Poulsen

Resolution Point on Minch Moor by Charles Poulsen

Resolution Point on Minch Moor by Charles Poulsen from Microsoft Live Map

Resolution Point on Minch Moor by Charles Poulsen

The Three Brethren cairns

The view across the valley of the River Tweed near Yair Bridge

The view down into Galashiels, and the end of day 8

A park in Galashiels and the end of day 8

Galashiels at the start of day 9

Monument above Galashiels

Bridge over the River Tweed north of Melrose

Bridge over the River Tweed north of Melrose

Looking back towards the Eildon Hills

A line of trees north of Melrose

Still going the right way

The Southern Upland Way follows the line of an old roman road for quite a way from Melrose to Lauder

A view towards Lauder

Looking back to Thirlestone Castle in Lauder at the start of day 10

The Eildon Hills on the horizon looking back towards Melrose

The path heading out of Lauder

The Twinlaw Cairns on the horizon

The Twinlaw Cairns and trig point

One of the Twinlaw Cairns

The other Twinlaw Cairn

Looking south from the Twinlaw Cairns

Longformacus House at the start of day 11

Another windfarm

Bridge over the Whiteadder Water near Abbey St Bathans

Cairn at Whiteburn

The first glimpse of the North Sea

Almost at the North Sea, the view looking towards Cockburnspath and Cove Harbour

Looking south along the coast from Cove Harbour

Cockburnspath Church

The end of the walk at Cockburnspath

1 thought on “Southern Upland Way”

patrique pagano on 28 April 09 at 1:41 am said:

beatiful place!! thanks for share this photos this is only way can I see one place like this! thanks!

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